300 
Vuriations of the Four-cow'se System. 
and reduces the land to a more workable tilth. Oats should 
again follow and then mangel, well manured, followed by a 
cereal crop. At this stage the land should be seeded down, after 
which the usual six-course rotation may be pursued. 
The loamy and marly soils are best cultivated, as has already 
been intimated, with such variation as may be necessary owing 
to climatic or other causes. In some districts — pai’ts of Lincoln- 
shire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire — potatoes are largely 
grown, in which case I should reduce the rotation to a five- 
course, potatoes following the seeds. In Lancashire, where the 
occupations are of moderate extent and the land is highly 
manured and cultivated, three white straw crops would still be 
grown. Wherever practicable, catch-cropping is rapidly becom- 
ing a recognised principle. Tares, winter oats, kale, and many 
other crops are found to be of great value to the stock farmer. 
These crops are sown in succession. The early sown crops in 
many localities can be cleared off in time for a root crop, forced 
by artificial manures. Both at autumn and spring they produce 
a large amount of valuable succulent food early in the season. 
The later sown crops are cleared in time for a crop of common 
turnips, or for kale or winter oats, to come in the following 
spring. By such means the land is kept in rich manurial con- 
dition at a moderate outlay. 
We frequently hear complaints as to the deteriorating effect 
of nitrate of soda, but the outcry is more sentimental than real. 
On some of the highest-rented and most productive lands within 
a four or five mile radius of Edinburgh, Italian rye-gi’ass is 
largely grown, and the produce is sold green in the city market. 
The land is frequently let to a middleman for six months, who 
will take as many as three or four cuttings from the land during 
this short period. As soon as the corn is removed in the 
autumn, a heavy dressing of nitrate of soda is applied. In 
sheltered situations the first crop is ready early in Api-il. For each 
succeeding crop a dressing of 1^ to 2 cwt. per acre of nitrate is 
put on immediately the previous crop is secured. Under what 
by many may be deemed a scourging system of managemeJit, the 
land shows no deterioration in cereal produce. 
In advocating the extended growth of forage, or catch crops, 
we are sure to hear a side whisper. How about the climate ? I 
am familiar with the potato-growing districts of the south- 
western seaboard of Scotland, and nowhere do I find catch crops 
— kale, coleseed, and other plants — more successfully grown 
than they are there. In good seasons, indeed, few districts 
grow heavier crops or better quality of wheat and barley, the 
latter being well known and highly appreciated by the Burton 
